Arrangement in flexible fences for enclosing impurities floating on water

ABSTRACT

A slick confining boom having an elongated flexible body means with upwardly extending portion to which floats are attached supporting said portion above the surface of a body of water and a downwardly extending portion to which weights are attached to extend said second portion below said water surface, a stress relieving rope connected at spaced apart intervals along said body means by connecting means extending laterally of said body means whereby said boom will retain impurities floating on said water surface.

United States Patent Blomberg [451 Aug. 29, 1972 [54] ARRANGEMENT INFLEXIBLE FENCES FOR ENCLOSING IMPURITIES FLOATING ON WATER [72]Inventor: Erling G. E. Blomberg, Vastergatan 3 A 411, 23 Goteborg,Sweden 22 Filed: Oct. 24, 1969 21 Appl. No.: 869,153

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 24, 1968 Sweden ..'.14366/68Feb. 12, 1969 Sweden ..1893/69 July 4, 1969 Sweden ..9557/69 [52] US.Cl. ..61/1 F, 61/5, 210/DlG. 21 [51] Int. Cl ..E02b 15/04, E02b 3/04[58] Field of Search ..61/1, 5; 210/242 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,348,690 10/1967 Comelissen ..210/242 3,499,290 3/1970Smith ..61/1

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,305 ,469 8/ 1 962 France ..61/11,528,855 5/1968 France ..61/1 829,756 3/1960 Great Britain ..61/154,003 6/1922 Sweden ..61/1

Primary Examiner-David J. Williamowsky Assistant Examiner-David H.Corbin Attorney-Linton & Linton 57 ABSTRACT a A slick confining boomhaving an elongated flexible body means with upwardly extending portionto which floats are attached supporting said portion above the surfaceof a body of water and a downwardly extending portion to which weightsare attached to extend said second portion below said water surface, astress relieving rope connected at spaced apart intervals along saidbody means by connecting means extending laterally of said body meanswhereby said boom will retain impurities floating on said water surface.

10 Claims, 35 Drawing Figures SHEET 010F 13 INVENTOR GOTE EINDR ERL QNCLOMBEPG M (i Z:

ATTORNEY 5 PATENTEDAHB I 2 3.686.870 sum 02 0F 13 VENT R cor; E/NHRERLING B'L GMEEPC u /Md? 7 ATTORNEYS PATENTEU F I973 3.686.870 sum UBUF13 INVENTOR COTE EIIVAR ERL/NG BLOMBtRC ATTORNEYS PATENTED K IH3,686,870

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SHEET IEUF 13 INVENTOR con: EINRR ERLINBGY BLOMBERGI 4: w zt ATTORNEYSPATENTEB M18 1912 3.686370 SHEET 13 0F 13 VENTOR GOTE EINAR ERLINGBLMBERG ATTORNEYS ARRANGEMENT IN FLEXIBLE FENCES FOR ENCLOSINGIMPURITIES FLOATING N WATER The present invention relates to anarrangement in flexible slick confining booms for enclosing impuritiesfloating on water.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a slick confiningboom, the efficiency of which is relatively independent of the conditionof the weather and water currents at the place, where it is going to beused. Another object is to provide a slick confining boom, which underworking conditions is subjected to the smallest possible stresses, sothat it will be cheap to manufacture.

The invention is substantially characterized by the slick confining boombeing provided (equipped) with a stress relieving rope extending betweenits ends and connected with the slick confining boom at points situatedbetween said ends.

The invention will now be described more in detail below with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a slick confining boom madeaccording to the invention,

FIGS. 2 to 4 are views of details embodied in the boom assembly,

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of a boom, which is not equipped with thearrangement according to the invention and which is laid in water withstrong current,

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross section of the boom illustrated in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a top view corresponding FIG. 5 illustrating a boom, which isequipped with the arrangement according to the invention,

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding FIG. 6 showing a vertical cross sectionthrough the boom illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a schematic top view of the boom illustrated in FIG. 5 and 6in tow ofa boat,

FIG. 10 is a top view corresponding FIG. 9 of a boom equipped with thearrangement according to the invention, while it is being towed by aboat,

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the boom illustrated in FIGS. 5,6, and 9 in heavy sea,

FIG. 12 is a view corresponding FIG. 11 showing a side elevational viewof the boom made according to the invention in heavy sea,

FIG. 13 is a top view of the boom illustrated in FIG. 12,

FIG. 14 is a view of a portion of a boom, which somewhat differs indesign compared with the boom illustrated in the preceding figures,

FIGS. 15 to 19 illustrate a further variated embodiment, of which FIG.15 illustrates an example how the stress relieving rope can be attached(fastened) to the boom,

FIG. 16 shows another example of the fastening of the rope to the boom,

FIG. 17 is a cross section substantially along the line 1-1 in the FIG.16,

FIG. 18 is a top view of the boom,

FIG. 19 is a vertical section through the boom with l the type offastening of the stress relieving rope shown in FIG. 16, the boom beingunder the influence of strong wind,

FIG. 20 is a view of a portion of a boom according to still anotherembodiment of the invention,

FIGS. 21 to 35 illustrating yet another embodiment of a boom accordingto the invention, of which FIG. 21 is a top view of the boom,

FIG. 22 shows the boom as seen from the right in FIG. 21,

FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of a portion'of the boom on anenlarged scale,

FIG. 24 shows a second side portion of the same scale (as in FIG. 23),

FIG. 25 is a cross section along the line 111-111 in FIG. 23,

FIG. 26 is a view of the frame of a discharge opening made in the wallof the boom,

FIG. 27 is a view of the same object illustrated in FIG. 26, but seenfrom the left,

FIGS. 28 to 30 illustrate details entering into the boom assembly,

FIG. 31 is a view in the direction of the arrow 11 in FIG. 21, thecanvas of the boom having been removed,

FIG. 32 is a side elevational view corresponding FIG. 31 with the canvasof the boom position,

FIG. 33 illustrates on an enlarged scale a portion of the boom as a topview,

. FIG. 34 is a view of the boom as seen from above at an inclined angle,and

FIG. 35 is a cross section through the boom along the line IV-IV in FIG.34.

In the example of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 the slickconfining boom includes a separate body means of long extensionconsisting of a flexible material as for example canvas cloth 1(fabric). At points along the lower edge portion of the canvas a numberof sinking-weights 2 and at points along its upper edge portion a numberof floats 3 are arranged. By means of a number of connecting organs 4 anumber of identically alike boom portions are connected forming a boomof larger size (compound fence), in which the individual boom portionseach one constitute a section. A tension means such as a stressrelieving rope 5 extends between the ends of each one of the sections,said rope preferably having a specific weight of less than 1. The waterlevel is indicated by the digit 6 with the portion of flexible material1 below level 6 providing a depending skirt below the surface of a bodyof water and the portion of material 1 above level 6 providing anupwardly extending portion above said surface. The digit 7 indicates aterminal and tow wire (line) connected to the free end of the fence. Thedigit 8 indicates a number of holes taken up in the canvas, which holesare intended to serve the purpose of fastening points for supportingwires extending between the canvas and the stress relieving rope.

In FIG. 2 the connecting organ 4 located in the passage between twosections is shown on an enlarged scale. The connecting organ 4 has anI-I-shaped cross section, in which the free ends of the parallel legs ofthe H are of thicker dimensions, the reinforcements pointing indirection to each other. Said reinforcements are indicated with 9 in thedrawings. As is evident from FIG. 4 the canvas 1 has a reinforcedthicker end portion 10, said portions 10 of the canvas pieces I atadjacent ends (of the boom sections) being introduced into the channelshaped spaces of the connecting organ 4. The end portions of the canvasbecause of the thicker portions 9 are prevented from being torn loosefrom the connecting organ 4 in the longitudinal direction of the canvas.Locking means crosswise tranversing the walls of the connecting organare indicated with 11, said locking means preventing the end portions ofthe canvas to slip out of the connecting organ 4 in the longitudinaldirection thereof. In FIG. 3 a-suitable manner of fastening of theterminal and tow wire 7 to one of the connecting organs 4 located in theedge portions of the boom. In FIG. 5 a boom is illustrated, which is notprovided with any stress relieving rope, which boom is laid in forexample a river with a strong water current. The direction of thecurrent is indicated with arrows and the river banks are indicated with12. In FIG. 6 the same boom is illustrated in cross section. One canalso see how the lower edge portion of the boom due to the current istending to move upwards towards the surface 6 of the water, whereby oilcan escape under and away from the boom along the inclined canvaswall 1. In FIG. 7 and 8 the same boom is illustrated, but equipped witha stress relieving rope 5. The addition the fence is connected with thestress relieving rope by means of tether means such as supporting wires13, which at one end are fastened in the holes of attachment indicatedwith 8 in FIG. 1. The stress relieving rope is shorter than the boomitself and extends between the ends of said boom, to which it isconnected by means of the terminal wires 7. The lower edge of the boomthereby is prevented from floating (being urged to move) upwards towardsthe surface 6 of the water, whereby impurities efficiently are preventedfrom escaping past the boom. In the way of laying out the fenceillustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 the stress relieving rope 5 is positionedat such a height that the pulling force in the supporting wires 13 isdirected somewhat diagonally upwards. By means of a suitable location ofthe supporting wires 13 the boom can be brought to curve or bight in adesired manner, and moreover it will be subjected to much less tensilestress than in the example illustrated in FIG. 5.

In FIG. 9 a boom towed by a boat 14 is illustrated, which boom comprisesan assembly of a number of smaller fence units, whereby the boom is notprovided with any stress relieving rope. Then the stress on theconnection between the tow wire and the section of the boom positionednext thereto will correspond to total water resistance actuating uponall the sections. In FIG. 10 the same boom is shown as it is towed bythe boat 14, whereby the boom is provided with the stress relieving rope5. Then the total stress exercised by the water resistance will be takenup by the stress relieving rope, whereby each section of the boom onlyis subjected to the particular water resistance stress actuating uponthat section. This arrangement brings with it many important advantages,among others the fact that the boom does not necessarily have to be sostrongly dimensioned is in the case illustrated in FIG. 9.

In FIG. 11 a boom without stress relieving rope is shown in heavy seaand subjected to strong wind pressure. Hereby the pressure of the windtends to press down the boom and stretch it so strongly that itsfloating capacity is considerably reduced, resulting in the cutting downinto the waves and its efficiency being great reduced. In FIG. 12 thesame boom is shown, but equipped with a stress relieving rope runningthrough the coupling means between the sections of the boom.

The length of the stress relieving rope can be dimensioned in relationto the motion of the sea, so that the various (different) sections ofthe boom remain comparatively slack. Hereby the stress relieving ropetakes up the wind pressure actuating upon each individual section, andeach section is subjected only to the wind pressure actuating thereupon.This brings with it the advantage that the boom gets very much improvedproperties in being able to follow the movements of the waves comparedwith what was the case in the example illustrated in FIG. 11. If thewind pressure actuating upon the couplings should get too strong, onecan suitably attach additional float bodies 16, which by way of examplemay comprise small steel sheet barrels, plastic kegs or similar.

The arrangement described above is further suitable, when the boom isgoing to be brought home or pursed around leaked out oil. Hereby thestress relieving rope is used to haul in each individual sectionseparately.

By detachably arranging the supporting wires at the boom as well as atthe stress relieving rope, their length can easily be dimensionedaccording to desire, and it is likewise not necessary to attach saidwires at the lower edge of the fence, but the height location of thepoint of attachment can be varied in a suitable manner according to theprevailing wind and current conditions.

In the FIGS. 14 to 18 examples of suitable ways of fastening of thestress relieving rope are illustrated in order to make possiblevariation of the height level of the point, where it is fastened to thefence. In FIG. 14 the supporting wire 13 is connected to the fence 1 atthe upper end of a stiffening rod 17, which in addition supports for onepart a float body 18 and for another part a sinking weight 19. Thesupporting wire 13 can also be fastened at another level along the rod17 without parting from the fundamental idea of the invention. Saidvariation can also be suitable considering different wind and currentconditions.

In FIGS. 15 to 19 the fence canvas is likewise indicated with the digit1, the stress relieving rope with 13, the floats with 18, the sinkingweights with 19, and the rods carrying the floats and sinking weightsare indicated with 17. In contrast to the fence illustrated in FIG. 14the supporting wires 13 are not fastened to the rods 17 but instead toso called laths 21 extending vertically in the fence, which laths inthis case comprise flat organs made of comparatively rigid material andarranged on each side of the canvas 1 of the fence. Said laths 21 aretightly pressed to the canvas 1 by means of a supporting wire 13. InFIG. 17 one can best see how the supporting wire 13 is threaded throughthe laths, which in this particular case have two through bores in thelower portion and corresponding bore in the upper portion crosswise tothe direction of the canvas whereby the supporting wire 13 keeps thelaths in the position, in which they squeeze the canvas. By looseningthe support wires at the laths 21 and swinging (pivoting) themparallelly to the canvas 1 the point of attachment (connection) can bemoved from the lower position shown in FIG. 16 to the upper positionsshown in FIG. 15.

In FIG. 20 the connecting organ 4 between two sections entering into theboom assembly, which has been described in detail above, is illustrated.As is evident from this figure the connecting organ is projectingoutside of the boom both at the top and the bottom. 46a and 46b indicatea lower stress relieving rope, and with 20a and corresponding 20b anupper stress relieving rope is indicated. In this case the stressrelieving rope comprises a number of separate lengths extending betweenthe connecting organs 4, which lengths are shorter than the respectivesections. It is also conceivable that the stress relieving rope isfastened to only one of the 4 ends of the connecting piece withoutparting from the fundamental idea of the invention. Which one of theattaching points that can be considered most convenient for the stressrelieving ropes 46a, 46b, 20a and 20b depends, as in the examples ofembodiment described above, upon the prevailing wind and currentconditions. It is also conceivable that the stress relieving rope can befastened to difierent points between the ends of the connecting organ 4.

In the example of the embodiment illustrated in the FIGS. 21 to 35 itcan for example be seen in FIG. 34 that a discharge outlet is arrangedin the wall of the fence, through which leaked out (waste) oil and otherimpurities, which have been collected by means of the fence during itstowing in the manner illustrated in FIG. 34, can be taken out to bedelivered to means for removal transportation and/or destruction, whichare located behind the fence as seen in its direction of towing. Adistance wire 22 is extending between portions of the stress relievingrope located on both sides of the discharge opening, which distance wiremaintains the two portions of the wall of the fence at a desired(predetermined) distance from each other. As is best evident from FIG.21 the tow wires indicated with the digit 7 are connected to the freeends of the canvas of the fence and the stress relieving wire by meansof a yoke 36, which maintains (keeps) the stress relieving rope 5 at adistance away from the wall 1 of the fence.

In the last mentioned example of embodiment the discharge opening issurrounded by a frame shaped stiffening organ 23, which can best be seenin FIG. 26. With the digit 47 a number of fastening points for the wallof the fence are indicated. The frame 23 of the opening is kept in placeby means of a number of supporting wires 24. Said supporting wires partfrom a common point on the stress relieving rope 5 and are fastened tothe frame 23 by means offastening means 25. In this example of theembodiment the supporting wires 24 are shown attached to the frame 23near its corners, but it is also here conceivable that they also can beattached at other point of the frame 23. In FIG. 27 is is clearly shownhow the supporting wires 24 are fastened (attached) to the upper andlower portions of the frame. In FIG. 31 the digit 26 indicates a rearframe-shaped stiffening organ, the shape of which can best be seen inFIG. 28. Between these frame-shaped stiffening organs extends atube-shaped passage 43 made or resilient material and being attached tothe frames by means of mantles 45 enclosing around them. By theillustrated design of the frames 23 and 26 passage 43 gets a shape,which is tapering in backward direction in a wedgelike manner. In FIG.31 said passage 43 is shown together with the supporting wires 24, thewall of the fence having been removed. In FIG. 32 the wall of the fenceis shown attached to the front frame 23. The digit 27 indicates a numberof reinforcement ribbons in the wall of the fence. The digit 28indicates a number of float bodies, which are arranged in thelongitudinal direction of the fence in inter spaced groups. The floatbodies entering into each group are vertically spaced in the heightdirection of the fence in such a manner that at least part of the groupis positioned above the surface 6 of the water, when the fence issubjected to normal stresses. Thereby the part of the group of floatbodies, which is above the surface of the water, constitutes of a floatreserve, which can be used when the canvas of the fence is subjected toabnormally great stresses. The digit 42 indicates a protruding bottomframe, which is carried by the front frame 23. Said bottom frame,however, is not necessary for the functioning of the fence. The digit 29indicates a tube provided with a number of nozzles directed backwards,which is intended for spraying the impurities, which have passed throughthe discharge opening. The tube 29 can be connected by means of a hoseto a towboat as shown in the FIG. 34.

The digit 33 indicates a number of springing laths extending in thecross direction of the wall of the fence, at

the upper and lower ends of which the supporting wires 13 are attachedby fastening means 34. The laths 33 in their turn are attached to thewall of the fence by means of fastening means 35. The digit 39 indicatesa number of sinking weights arranged near the lower edge of the wall ofthe fence. The sinking weights and the float bodies can advantageouslybe placed near the laths 33, which best can be seen in the FIGS. 23 to25.

In FIG. 29 one of the yokes 36 is shown on an enlarged scale by means ofwhich yoke the towing wires 7 are coupled together with the stressrelieving rope 5 and the wall 1 of the fence. In FIG. 30 the fasteningmeans 37 for the supporting wires are shown on an enlarged scale, whichfastening means are placed in the lower portion of the laths 33. Saidfastening means comprise eyes 34. The digit 38 indicates eyes arrangedat the opposite side for possible lashing of the fence. In the FIG. 33one of the supporting wires 13 is shown laid in a loop 31 around one endof a lath 33. In FIG. 24 it can be seen that one of the reinforcementribbons 27 at the free end of the wall of the fence is laid (placed) inthe eye 40 for its fastening to the yoke 36. In FIGS. 21 and 33 thedigit 41 indicates a tightening mantle extending into the dischargepassage.

During the use of the fence according to the last mentioned embodimentthe surface of the water is swept, whereby the impurities pass throughthe discharge opening, whereafter they either are pumped (suctioned)into a tank for transportation removal or are mixed with emulsifying orabsorption additives. The absorption additive can for example be sprayedover the collected oil string at the discharge opening of the fence froma following boat. Also in the case, when the oil is pumped into a tankfor transportation, this can be made from a following boat.

By the resilience of the laths the portion of the wall of the fence,which is positioned below the surface of the water, is reduced accordingto the increase of speed of the towing, the wall thereby curving out asis evident from the FIG. 35. By this curvature such currents are createdin the water that the impurities do not pass (escape) below the wall ofthe fence.

The invention is not limited to the various embodiments above, whichonly are described by way of example, and which can be modified as totheir details within the scope of the following claims without partingfrom the fundamental idea of the invention.

I claim:

1. A slick confining boom comprising:

A. a separate body means, said body means being flexible and including:

i. a depending skirt adapted to extend below the surface of a body ofwater and ii. an upwardly extending portion adapted to extend above thesurface of a body of water;

B. tension means adapted to carry tension loads on the boom andlaterally spaced from said body; and

C. tether means extending laterally away from said body to said tensionmeans, so as to connect said body means to said tension means.

2. A slick confining boom comprising an elongated body means of flexiblematerial having an upwardly extending portion adapted to extend abovethe surface of a body of water and a downwardly extending portionadapted to extend below said water surface, floats connected to andpositioned along said upwardly extending portion of said body means,weights connected to and positioned along said downwardly extendingportion of said body means, a stress relieving rope spaced laterallyfrom said body means and adapted to relieve the stress on said bodymeans when in a body of water, and a plurality of connecting meansextending laterally from said body means and connecting only spacedapart portions wherein said connecting means consists of wires.

4. A slick confining boom as claimed in claim 3 wherein said wires aredetachably connected to said body means and each wire has its portionbetween said body means and said rope adjustable as to its length.

5. A slick confining boom as claimed in claim 2 wherein said body meansconsists of a plurality of detachably connected sections.

6. A slick confining boom as claimed in claim 5 including rigidconnecting members each having an H- shaped cross-sectionalconfiguration with the parallel legs of the H at their ends beingenlarged in a direction towards the opposing ends thereof and saidsections having enlarged ends each inserted in the space between saidconnecting member legs.

7. A slick confining boom as claimed in claim 6 including locking meansdetachably mounted on said connecting members on each side of saidsection enlarged ends to prevent said sections from slippinglongitudinally from said connecting members.

8. A slick confining boom as claimed in claim 6 wherein said rope isconnected to the connecting members at opposite ends of said body means.

9. A slick confining boom as claimed in claim 6 wherein said connectingmembers extend vertically of said body means.

10. A slick confining boom as claimed in claim 6 wherein the portion ofsaid rope which lies between adof said body means to similarly spacedapart portions of jacem connecting members is shorter than the saidrope.

3. A slick confining boom as claimed in claim 2 responding section ofsaid body means.

l a h

1. A slick confining boom comprising: A. a separate body means, saidbody means being flexible and including: i. a depending skirt adapted toextend below the surface of a body of water and ii. an upwardlyextending portion adapted to extend above the surface of a body ofwater; B. tension means adapted to carry tension loads on the boom andlaterally spaced from said body; and C. tether means extending laterallyaway from said body to said tension means, so as to connect said bodymeans to said tension means.
 2. A slick confining boom comprising anelongated body means of flexible material having an upwardly extendingportion adapted to extend above the surface of a body of water and adownwardly extending portion adapted to extend below said water surface,floats connected to and positioned along said upwardly extending portionof said body means, weights connected to and positioned along saiddownwardly extending portion of said body means, a stress relieving ropespaced laterally from said body means and adapted to relieve the stresson said body means when in a body of water, and a plurality ofconnecting means extending laterally from said body means and connectingonly spaced apart portions of said body means to similarly spaced apartportions of said rope.
 3. A slick confining boom as claimed in claim 2wherein said connecting means consists of wires.
 4. A slick confiningboom as claimed in claim 3 wherein said wires are detachably connectedto said body means and each wire has its portion between said body meansand said rope adjustable as to its length.
 5. A slick confining boom asclaimed in claim 2 wherein said body means consists of a plurality ofdetachably connected sections.
 6. A slick confining boom as claimed inclaim 5 including rigid connecting members each having an H-shapedcross-sectional configuration with the parallel legs of the H at theirends being enlarged in a direction towards the opposing ends thereof andsaid sections having enlarged ends each inserted in the space betweensaid connecting member legs.
 7. A slick confining boom as claimed inclaim 6 including locking means detachably mounted on said connectingmembers on each side of said section enlarged ends to prevent saidsections from slipping longitudinally from said connecting members.
 8. Aslick confining boom as claimed in claim 6 wherein said rope isconnected to the connecting members at opposite ends of said body means.9. A slick confining boom as claimed in claim 6 wherein said connectingmembers extend vertically of said body means.
 10. A slick confining boomas claimed in claim 6 wherein the portion of said rope which liesbetween adjacent connecting members is shorter than the correspondingsection of said body means.